Warrior of Light, G'raha Tia, Alphinaud Leveilleur, Alisaie Leveilleur, Thancred Waters, Urianger Augurelt, Y'shtola Rhul, Estinien Wyrmblood, Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Spoilers for 6.0, Patch 6.0 Endwalker Spoilers, Friendship, Death, Dying, Heavy Angst, Depression, Trust, Fluff, Heartbreak, Soul-Searching, Sweetness, Healing, Heart-to-Heart, Family, Pain, Trauma, Love, Familiar Love, Parental Love, Hurt, Injuries, Recovery, unnamed Warrior of Light

READ HERE FIRST!

MAJOR SPOILERS FROM THE ENDWALKER MSQ!

Do not read if you are still playing through Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker or have plans to. I often in my stories use my own character, Claire Faye, to stand in as the Warrior of Light, but I made this story so that anyone can think of their own characters since they will be unnamed. Will be picking up from my previous story At the Edge of the Universe so please read if you haven't. There will be two chapters, devoted to those Scions whom I think share the closest bond with the Adventurer. So this first one will be devoted to G'raha Tia and the next chapter will be all with the twins! So please look forward to it.

Special commission from: Shiloh Aldwin so this one's for you, friend!

Again major Game Spoilers for Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, Heavenward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, and Endwalker.

I do not own any copyright, am doing this purely for entertainment…

Please enjoy.

More fluff and sweetness dammit!

Chapter 1: Opposites Not Reflections

She still had trouble believing that she made it.

When she closed her eyes at the edge of the universe, where the first rays of light spread out from an unfamiliar sun, she truly believed it to be the end. Her end anyway. She had always believed that death would be a painful thing, but now she realized just how calming it truly was. She felt everything slipping away as she sank into a peaceful oblivion… like she was just resting.

She didn't bother trying to pray for someone to save her, for how could they even hope to find her in such a place like this? So, she accepted that this was where her journey was meant to end. She found herself strangely at peace though; content with the knowledge that her friends were all alive and safe, and able to return to a home that will continue on without the fear of the Final Days…

She was ready to go.

But they, it seemed, weren't ready to let her go.

She didn't remember anything after she shut her eyes other than that faint, beeping noise from somewhere near her. But as she drifted off, it was as if she was sinking into deep water for everything grew dark around her—almost relaxing.

She sank deeper and deeper into this comfortable darkness, not the least bit afraid as she felt herself slowly leaving everything else behind, including the pain. Yet, just before she was gone completely, she suddenly heard voices. She couldn't really make out what they were saying at first, or even who was speaking. Just scattered words that would grow faint and then become clear—as if trying to hear them from across a deep canyon and only the faded echoes were able to make their way through. It was baffling to say the least. But that was when she could see faint traces of aether flying about her; sparkling with a familiar light.

Eventually, she became aware that her terrible pain was slowly coming back—though at this point it was now constantly shifting in and out. One moment she would feel the sheer agony but then it would leave her and she would relax in relief. But during the times that she could feel pain she also sensed the presence of others around her; as well as a warm comfort and gentle pressure on all sides.

Was someone holding her hand…? No, wait… both of them were being held now…?

That was when the pleas for her to awaken finally became more pronounced and she realized she did know those voices.

"Open your… please!"

G'raha?

"Someone hand…"

Y'shtola…?

"Please..." came Alphinaud's voice as the strange light around her seemed to glow brighter and brighter.

And the next voice was a strangled sob as Alisaie began to beg, pleading with her to open her eyes and get up; telling her that she couldn't leave them like this. She suddenly heard a strange thumping in her ears as the light shone brightly directly before her and she knew she had to follow it. She felt herself drifting forward as she reached out to grasp hold of the light. Any thoughts she had of being able to rest left her for she couldn't bear to hear such tormented crying. Alisaie's voice alone sounded so lost and scared… she couldn't leave her and the others like that.

She then realized that the odd thumping sounds were from her own heart pounding in her chest again and that the light was that of healing magicks. Now it all made sense… her body was being healed. Something brought her back from the very borders of death.

And as she forced her eyes to open, she had her answer to who had fought for her life so desperately. Her vision was very bleary at first so she had a hard time trying to really focus on their faces. But they were there. The Scions… her friends… all of them letting out cries of elation when they saw her awaken.

They returned to their Star soon afterwards she regained consciousness, with the others constantly fussing over her and asking if she was in any pain. Having learned the arts of several different forms of healing, she knew better than anyone to know that even the greatest of healers had their limitations. One such limitation was how much that the patient could handle at once. Serious injuries often had to be healed slowly over the course of several days—mayhap even weeks—since aether could become overwhelming in such a weakened state. Everyone around her had poured what little aether they had left to take care of her hurts, but she knew that there was a chance they could reopen or even be made worse if left as she was. Though she didn't have a chance to look over her own condition, she could feel that she had a long way to go before she was back to full health. The pain was coming and going in waves while she constantly felt light-headed and dizzy for starters…?

"That is due to the blood lost," Y'shtola explained when she finally told them this. "And you are correct in that you are far from completely healed and will most certainly need more treatment for the next few days at the very least. We just gave you a head start on all of it."

At that, everyone was on full alert with her and promised to make sure she got the best care when they got back to Sharlayan. She just nodded, trusting them completely to see them back.

When they left the ship, stepping back in Sharlayan to everyone waiting for them; she knew she would never forget this moment. To be surrounded by so many friends, cheering for their safe return and their victory. It was all worth it. Any remaining traces of regret that may have been there instantly evaporated at the sight of it all. All that she had gone through had been worth it just to see the smiling faces all about her.

Having said all that… it didn't help that she could barely walk on her own, having to be supported by the others. She stumbled more than once, her arms around Thancred's and G'raha's shoulders as they helped her to take one step in front of the other. She was still so tired that she kept nodding off with a longing for sleep as she moved forward.

"Sorry for any trouble," she mumbled, now struggling to keep her eyes open.

"Don't you worry about us," Y'shtola reassured her gently as Alphinaud called for healers. "We are all alive and home thanks to you. Pray, leave your care to us from here on out."

"Yeah, we'll make sure that you get back on your feet soon," Thancred promised kindly from next to her. "You let us handle the aftermath."

She smiled as she felt herself drifting off right there when Alisaie stepped forward, trying to tell the throng of people to give their returning hero some space since they were all starting to crowd around them. At least, that was what she thought Alisaie was saying since the ringing was back in her ears.

All she could remember was the vague recollection of being moved to another stretcher. The moment that she felt herself lay back down, she drifted instantly off into a blissfully dreamless sleep.

*Later*

She had a dream… at least she thought it was a dream. It felt real though as she was walking through a beautiful place. It reminded her of the aetherial sea, the space between anyway, where she had visited several times before. The sparkling lights and colors that swarmed around her in a kaleidoscope of beauty never failed to fill her mind with a sense of tranquility—as if she was in the middle of the aurora lights that sometimes shone over Coerthas.

She walking through this stunning space, but she wasn't alone. All of her friends—her fellow Scions—were there with her and walked directly behind. No one spoke, but there were smiles all around as they followed her.

She just kept moving, taking one step and then another, simply continuing on though she didn't know where her feet were taking her next.

Directly ahead, she spotted several figures walking towards them and she blinked in surprise after recognizing them all instantly. Out in front was Emet-Selch… or Hades… as he had been in life. Back in his robes with his red mask hanging about his neck as his white hair fell about his face. He looked to be completely at ease as he led the small group of people though he barely paid her any attention when he drew near. Still, she could have sworn she saw a rather satisfied smile upon his face as he passed. Following directly behind him was Hythlodaeus, who gave her the warmest smile that caused his kind, violet eyes to sparkle. She remembered all the compassion and harmless teasing that he had been more than happy to share with her during her visit to Elpis and knew she would miss him fiercely. He was as if an old friend whom she hadn't seen in years… though perhaps that was more accurate than one could imagine.

And then behind them were two others… Venat… and Hermes.

Both of their expressions were rather calm and relaxed… not really looking her, but as she passed them, she felt Venat's loving eyes upon her. Before she could turn back and call to them, a starbird with feathers of the brightest shade of blue flew overhead and she immediately turned to follow it with her eyes. Hermes paused and held up his hand to welcome the little bird back to him. But her attention was focused upon Venat, who—alone—turned around to look at her. For a brief moment… when their eyes met, she felt Venat's her love shining like a beacon and a warmth that filled her heart. She felt her eyes wanting to fill with tears as she just smiled back until Venat's face melted into one of complete peace…?

…Before she turned and the five of them left as the Scions all caught up with her. But she remained for a moment longer as she watched Venat's retreating form.

What life would be like without her, the Ascians, or even Zodiark around, she didn't know. But she had a feeling that this journey was far from over. She felt a terrible sense of sadness and joy from it. She wasn't sure if that was what caused her to stir but eventually she felt herself leave this dream, if that was what it was, and…

…opened her eyes.

She didn't know how long she slept, but judging from how stiff she felt it must have been a fair amount of time. She awoke in a familiar room with a heavily perfumed smell of flowers in the air. Was this the Annex? While looking around the lovingly called 'nap room' and she could see that it was quite dark. The window showed a clear, star-filled sky in the background with the only other source of light from a tiny lamp that cast a dim glow near the head of the bed. She blinked as everything slowly began to clear and realized that she was lying in her bed with clean sheets and a thick, fluffy blanket covering her. She had also been changed out of her mostly destroyed armor to the softest linens and the feeling of what may be bandages covering most of her body. Speaking of which, on the large table where she often ate with her friends, she saw that there were various potion bottles and other medical supplies stacked while countless vases full of flowers and wreaths all arranged neatly around the room.

She was vaguely confused by the flowers, her mind felt a bit hazy as she tried to think it all rationally. She felt weak and every part of her was now aching as if she was a giant bruise. What happened?

"Ah, you're finally awake!"

She turned her head slightly to find that it was G'raha, who had come out from the other side of the table, a book in hand, and a small smile on his face. Though how he was able to read with such a weak light, she wasn't sure.

"G'raha?" she question, her voice sounding very hoarse and dry as if her mouth was stuffed full of cotton. She tried to sit up, but she winced from the pain in her chest. At that, G'raha came rushing to her side.

"Easy now," he said soothingly, having set the book aside. "You don't have to push yourself. Are you still in pain? Where? I can give you something to help ease it."

Her voice sounded so terrible that she didn't really wish to speak so she just pointed to her chest, gesturing to how it felt like a great weight was there and G'raha nodded in understanding. He then held up his hand and soothing healing magicks flowed forth as the sharp pain was reduced until it had gone numb.

"There we go," G'raha said happily. "That will take the edge off for a time. I like to think we did a fair job with healing the worst of it… but I'm not surprised that it's still bothering you."

"Where… are we?" she asked, almost choking on how dry her mouth was.

"What? You mean you can't guess?" G'raha asked with a teasing grin. "You were having a hard time staying on your feet after our triumphant return so we arranged to have you brought back to the Annex for treatment. Ameliance offered that you come to their estate, but we knew that you would be more comfortable here."

"And the others?" she asked, wondering where everyone else was as her eyes scanned the room.

"Here as well," G'raha reassured her before he reached for a pitcher nearby and began to pour a glass of water. He brought it and a chair over to the bed next to her as he finished explaining, "The few remaining injuries we had were taken care of by Krile and Nidhana the moment we arrived. Nothing serious for us; though Estinien was told not to use his lance for a day or two until his arm completely heals. Everyone else is probably still sleeping right now… though, most of us did try to fight sleep for as long as possible to sit here and look after you."

He gently helped to raise her head so that she could drink and she swallowed each mouthful gratefully, feeling immediately better as the burning in her throat cooled. Once she was finished, she thought more of what he said and then asked in concern, her voice slowly returning to normal, "Shouldn't you be resting too?"

"For once, it's alright for you to not have to be worried about everyone else," he smiled. "If you must know, the twins were the first to keep watch while I and several others collapsed. I woke up a little while ago and relieved the twins of their roles as nursemaids for a time. They wanted to remain until you awoken, but they were falling asleep in their chairs. Don't worry, they're sleeping like babes right now. Though they will be upset to hear that you woke up after they left the room."

She sighed in relief, gladdened to hear all that.

G'raha was also smiling until he blinked and something came to his mind. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?" he asked with sudden concern. "I was trying to keep it down but as I was looking over some of the instructions that Nidhana left us I fear I may have made a little more noise than…?"

But she shook her head, reassuring him that she didn't even notice he was there.

"No, I had… a strange dream," she confessed, her eyes suddenly looking to the window. "Is it dark out already? How long have I been asleep?"

"For a fair while," he informed her. "It's past midnight and we are slowly heading to the dawn hours. But everyone understands."

He then asked if she could sit up so that he could continue to tend to her pain. With difficulty, she was able to push herself into a sitting position, finding even just this simple action took a great deal of effort. This was due, she realized, to several broken ribs—probably from when Zenos kicked her during their fight. A damp cloth had also fallen from her forehead in the process, which G'raha caught and placed it to a small bowl of water that she didn't notice that was next to her.

"Just to help cool you down," he said when he caught her looking at it in surprise. "You have a slight fever. Again, nothing to be overly concerned with, just another form of exhaustion that you pushed yourself into. Krile was the one who applied the bandages a short while ago, in case you were curious, so I don't think we need to change them just yet. Though we did stop the bleeding, we were having a hard time trying to get the wound to close all the way. You suffered a lot of internal damage as well, you have Y'shtola to thank for taking care of most of that. Though that punctured lung had us all worried…?"

He then went to the table to look through the many potion bottles, absent-mindedly explaining more about the wonders of Radz-at-Han's alchemists and their medicines. While he did that, she peeled the bandages away slightly so she could have a glimpse at the wound they were all talking about. She frowned when she realized that it aligned with the previous scar Zenos gave her nearly perfectly that day at the Reach. She had no idea if Zenos was trying to make sure that she would never forget him, but he certainly… left his mark. The scar was red and swollen, there were even a few sutures here and there it as it stretched from her shoulder, across her collar bone, down between her breasts until it reached her side across her broken ribs.

"Will this scar?" she asked worriedly as G'raha came back.

He hesitated, but she saw how his ears seemed to droop sadly as he muttered, "M-Most likely. I'm sorry my friend."

But she shook her head, trying to smile, before realizing the tray he was carrying. There had to be seven or eight different bottles there and she was suddenly filled with dread.

"Don't tell me those are all for me?" she asked incredulously as he set the tray down on the bed.

"Recommended from Nidhana and she made each one of these. In fact, she made enough for all the Scions to last a few weeks. Not that I think that we will be needing it, of course. But… this one will be for pain," G'raha stated as he began to point them out and explain what each one was for. "This one will be for replenishing the blood you loss… this one is for replenishing your lost aether…?"

And he went on explaining each one until her mind felt like it was swimming with all these different remedies. Perhaps G'raha realized this and just cleared his throat.

"Well, you just need to know that these are all here to help you get better, faster. So, don't be difficult and bottom's up!" he said happily and she groaned at the thought as she reluctantly took the first dose.

The medicine was vile—killing her taste buds as they burned her throat going down and left her a coughing mess. But G'raha was relentless and not going to let her get away with missing a single one. Even going as far as to threaten to put her under a sleep spell and shove the medicine down her throat if she kept being difficult. So, like a good girl, she began to take each one, which was as bitter as the last.

When she reached the eighth and final bottle, in a desperate attempt to avoid it as long as possible, she asked, "The flowers?"

She looked around at the brightly arranged flora about her, reminding her of Il Mheg and wondered if there was a flower shop around here who was suddenly very happy and successful all of a sudden.

"From your many friends and admirers," G'raha chuckled, realizing what she was doing but decided to indulge her. "You had no shortage of people wishing to see you but Tataru was able to shoo them away until you are well enough to receive guests in person. So, instead, they began to send gifts in the hopes of your speedy recovery. You should have seen the poor post moogles as they hauled each one of them here."

"I didn't mean to cause them trouble," she said, though she was having a hard time keeping the smile off her face at the thought—which was shared with G'raha.

"It was no trouble at all," he reassured her. "Seeing that smile is worth it. But, I must ask, just what happened to you that you received such injuries? We had a quick discussion with Meteion when she appeared inside Ragnarok. But it took you forever to return to us despite her saying you were right behind her. And then… when you did…?"

He fell silent and she saw how his ears drooped even lower. He looked afraid for a moment, as if he wanted to know but was scared to learn something he may not like.

She was silent for a moment, not really wanting to talk about it now, but knew that he deserved an explanation. So she told him what happened after she used the teleporter to teleport them all to safety. She was facing against the Endsinger… when Shinyru, of all creatures, appeared.

"The same dragon that Zenos fused together with when you battled with each other in Ala Mhigo?!" he gasped and she nodded grimly. And then she watched the understanding fill his face as the pieces all fell into place.

She told him that Zenos told her that he came to Sharlayan and by agreeing to help the Scions, he was allowed to gorge himself on what was left of the mothercrystal. After that, he rode the light of the stars to her—or so he claimed. Zenos, of course, only cared about one thing and decided that he would lend them his aid to get her 'distraction' out of the way so that they could have the rematch he wanted so desperately. Deciding to just go for it, she had leapt up onto his back and they gave chase after Endsinger after she tried to flee. After a long chase and a battle, where the rest of them were able to offer their aid and protect her against Meteion's attack, she was able to deal the finishing blow. Where they appeared after the battle, she wasn't sure… just that she could only remember falling through a very long way in the dark until she found the dying Meteion. After sharing her own memories with Meteion, thus finding answers she and Hermes had been looking for, she sung one last song to release the souls of those dead worlds before departing. She, herself, had been ready to go back to her friends before Zenos stepped in.

"So it was Zenos…?" G'raha said and suddenly he was struck by a case of melancholy. "That would explain much. That wound in your chest? Alphinaud stated that it was very similar to the wound that Zenos gave you back at the Reach. Only this one was done with a much sharper and larger blade…?

He lowered his head sadly and confessed, "Krile then told us that Zenos appeared here in Sharlayan, looking for you. And…? I didn't think that he would… how he…?"

The newly named savior of the star stared at him while G'raha rubbed his tired face, having just told her everything that Krile told them. How he arrived, asking where she was, before Krile was able to strike this deal with him to help him reach Ultima Thule in exchange for helping the Scions defeat Meteion. Everything lined up with what he said… though she knew that of all the many things that Zenos was, a liar wasn't one of them. He was surprisingly honest for whatever he was… then again, she supposed that he really didn't have a need to lie and try to manipulate people since he cared for nothing else… save her.

"She feels enormous regret for having done so, but at the same time I can't say I blame her for her decision," he explained. "Desperate times and all that. But… judging by your survival here and Zenos noticeably quiet since then…? Do I take this to mean that he's…?"

"Dead," she nodded as she allowed G'raha to dab some foul-smelling ointment onto some of the bruises around her face. She closed her eyes at his gentle touch, feeling oddly comfortable all of a sudden now. "He stopped breathing and was left behind just as badly hurt as I was. I cannot see him returning again, though. For if he were to try and repeat the trick, he would need a new host and I don't think that there will be many of those where I left him."

At least, she hoped not.

G'raha then beamed as he said, "Then you are at last free from him. That is a relief to hear. You are finally free to move on from this."

She nodded at that as she opened her eyes once more and they shared a tired smile.

Neither of them said another word as he finished tending to her. Once he was sure that she finished all of her medicines and checked her various bruises and red, angry gashes… he felt that he had done all he could. He then leaned back in his seat as he thought more of what she told him.

"So Meteion promised life will fill the universe again one day?" G'raha said softly at the thought. "That is comforting to hear. Though, there is something that I have to ask, if you don't mind."

She tilted her head as he asked, "You didn't have to fight Zenos, did you? He gave you a choice? That's what Krile said that he would promise, anyway?"

She supposed she should have been expecting that question though didn't answer that right away as she looked to the window where she could still see the night sky twinkling above her.

"I don't think… there is just one simple answer to that," she began slowly. She wasn't sure how to really answer, but G'raha didn't press her as he waited for her to get her thoughts in order.

Finally, she looked back and confessed, "I guess the first and foremost reason is that I felt that this was something I had to do."

G'raha looked on, but seemed unable to speak. She suddenly felt herself growing very hot in the face with his staring, though that could be due to the sudden light-headedness she felt.

"Tired?" he asked quietly.

"Yes," she admitted, "I'm surprised you aren't."

"Well, I'm not the one who was on the brink of death until a short time ago," he frowned a bit. "Lay back down."

He then carefully eased her back onto her pillow before he reached for the cloth still soaking in water. After wringing it out, he gently laid it over her forehead where she found some relief. Her eyes immediately began to droop at the feeling of being safe and warm in bed while being tended to with such care.

"You seem to have experience with this," she asked him, suddenly curious.

"Lyna," he explained simply but a fond smirk was appearing there as he thought of the strong captain that he raised since she was a young child. "She… she caught colds easily when she was a little girl. She would go out and play in all weather, not that we really had weather with the eternal daylight and all. But we did have cold days across Lakeland… tending to her until she was well wasn't easy because she hated to be fussed over."

He then chuckled before adding with a slight wink, "So I have plenty of experience in getting uncooperative patients to behave so don't think any tricks on getting out of here will work on me."

He certainly seemed eager to play the part of a perfect nursemaid here and the thought made her smile, which perked up his ears at the sight of it.

But he was still worried about something; for G'raha could sense that there was still more to her reasoning to wishing of staying behind, but something was keeping her from speaking out. He began to wring his hands anxiously, his tail swishing about behind him in a nervous way but he ignored all that as she seemed close to drifting off again. He supposed that he could let her sleep for now and simply press about it when she felt better…? But it was obvious to him that there was something weighing heavily upon her mind and he wished to help ease whatever it was before she went back to sleep.

Suddenly feeling bold, he reached out and took the hand that still rested on top of the blankets, taking her by mild surprise. He didn't blame her for he did this completely on instinct and when he looked down to see him holding her hand he suddenly felt embarrassed. Still, he wasn't going to stop now and just smiled kindly at her as he whispered, "My friend. I believe I told you this before, but I am here to help you carry your burdens if only by a little. Please, if there is something troubling you, speak now and I will listen to your woes."

She looked back into his eyes and he felt that mayhap he crossed a line too raw or fresh. He was just about to let go and apologize, but then her hand moved so that her fingers laced with his and she squeezed them ever so gently.

She closed her eyes and seemed to lean back into her pillow so that, at first glance, it looked as if she had merely given in to exhaustion. But he felt her squeeze his hand a little tighter before she turned her head to gaze up at the ceiling.

"Zenos…" she admitted softly as she slowly opened her eyes. "I can't help but think of his words. And… I am troubled."

He didn't press it as he waited for her to continue; though every part of him was begging that she not pay the words of that madman any kind.

"I could have left…" she confessed. "He gave me the chance to leave the battle behind after Meteion was defeated. But… what he said… I had to continue. I had to finish it. But…?"

She seemed to be deeply struggling with trying to put into words what was bothering her. Suddenly, she began to chuckle and he looked at her in confusion as she glanced back and informed him, "I guess I should have paid closer attention. Back when the Ilsabard Contigent was formed… Cirinia told me that her grandmother had a vision of two figures fighting it out among the stars and one of them was me. Oh, I wish I thought to ask her more about it…?"

"Truly? That is fascinating and…?" G'raha began before realizing that they were getting off topic and shook his head. "Please, go on. I'm listening."

She sighed again as she shut her eyes tiredly again.

"There really didn't seem to be anyway that I could get out of it if I think back," she confessed. "Despite that he was letting me choose, in a way, it felt like there was no decision to be made at all. I realized that nothing I could say would have been enough for him to end it without violence. If I agreed with him, it would mean admitting that he was right about me. If I choose the middle road… keeping a wall between us while using the title of a hero to separate myself from him, he would have still seen us as the same. And even if I rejected him, hated him with every fiber of my being, he would still have accepted it all because he doesn't care if I hate him or understand him."

She sighed before slowly gazing back at him, and he listened in to every word she was speaking; vaguely aware that this was probably the most he had ever heard her speak before.

"I chose to fight him, though I cannot truthfully declare the feelings I had at the moment," she own up sadly. "But I will not deny how good it felt. Free of all my burdens even if it be for a moment. We may have met as enemies, but I think that we… did come to some kind of an understanding."

She seemed sad though as the memories still played themselves inside her head. He was curious to know what answer that she had given Zenos, but she did not speak of that as she went on.

"He spoke to that side of me that loves challenges and, no matter how you try to word it, loves to fight," she recognized. "Not fighting to the death but to fight for the thrill of it. I feel that he understood myself more than I can ever care to admit. I don't know what he saw… but he was able to see parts of myself that I try to hide from everyone… even the Scions."

"Why?" he asked, wondering why she would feel the need to hide anything from them.

"Because there are parts of me that aren't so… pleasant," she said. Though that wasn't the word that she felt suited to what she felt. "There are other sides of me that I… I'm afraid of. But he could see all that. He could see those parts. And what gets me is that he didn't feel the need to run. He came after it. Despite everything… of all the things that he said… he finally said something that spoke true to me. That there, in that place, at that moment… I had done enough. There was no other reason to fight other than for the joy of it. You were all safe on board the Ragnarok, the world was spared the Final Days. That just left the two of us to find out which was the stronger once and for all. And I wanted to find out so that I could close this chapter of my life. What does that make me?"

She opened her eyes and seemed lost in staring up at the ceiling, watching the darkened shadows flicker from the dim light and finished, "I cannot ever bring myself to hurt innocent people like how he did. But I admit that I love the thrill of battling and have no problems being the first one to charge in against whatever threat is coming. But as I looked at him, I realized how easily it could have become the other way around. How I was looking at what I could have become?"

Could she have become like him? Had she not had the same challenges awaiting her? Would she have become as empty as he had been? Just the thought was enough to cause a shade of dread to wash over her.

The two of them remained in silence for a short time, letting what she said wash over them both. After a few more minutes of calm she felt him squeeze her hand back and informed her, "I think that it's incredible."

"What?" she repeated in surprise, looking back with complete bewilderment.

He just smiled back at her, his sanguine eyes very kind.

"You are too honest and kind-hearted for that," he said knowingly. "I don't know what would have happened if you both were in opposite circumstances, but I just cannot see you becoming the monster he was."

"But…?" she began before he gently interrupted.

"Answer truthfully," he told her, "How do you feel about Zenos now?"

She thought that over for a long time though he gave her the time that she needed to find the answer.

"I mourn him," she finally decided upon softly. "But not as he was… but for what he could have been. The only time that he ever felt joy or happiness was when he found an equal in combat and that was why he came after me. In his eyes, I was the only one who brought him joy… and there was such a melancholy in his voice before when he spoke? It was as if he finally realized that I was all he had. He always wished for the power to transcend… to transcend the role that he was born into… I think that was what he wished for."

At least, that was what she believed. Suddenly, the words that he never got to say with his dying breath became clear to her.

"To him, he never felt so alive than when he was no the brink of death," she decided upon. "That was how he dealt with the suffering that Venat gave to mankind. His strength could have been used for the greater good and at the end of it all he did use it to help us save the world. But it wasn't for the world… it was just for me."

That was when a thought came into her head and she asked, "I suddenly realized… mayhap he had a hand in wishing for that teleporter to come to me?"

"You believe that?" he asked in surprise.

"I honestly don't know," she told him. "It was just a thought. Though there is a good chance he wished for us to share a grave in that place. Either way, I am grateful that it didn't turn out that way." She then gave him a bright smile as she added, "I didn't get to say it before but… thank you… all of you. For saving me."

He blushed at that and looked away.

"How… how could we not? After all that you risked, we couldn't just let you die there," he told her. "Though, we almost didn't."

He bowed his head and remembered how helpless he felt in that moment as they gathered around her and did all they could to try and heal her wounds.

"Raha?" she questioned, using his nickname. Usually, it made his cheeks glow a light pink in delight whenever he heard her call him that, but now it just seemed to cause him pain. The solemn look in his eyes filled her with concern and wondered why he was looking at her with such sadness.

"What is it?" she asked, carefully letting go of his hand to reach up to his cheek as a single tear slipped past, his eyes just full of fear and worry.

"What is it?" he repeated with a shaky breath. "Just the idea that you could have died out there, alone… is more than I can bear."

She stared at him, her mouth falling open slightly as the unshed tears continued to fill and drip down one by one, while he gritted his teeth so hard against each other that she knew he would crack a tooth like that.

"We didn't know… we didn't know how bad of shape you were in. To think that you could have died… and we wouldn't know until it would have been too late to help you? I don't know how I—how any of us—could have lived with ourselves should that have happened. So please," G'raha begged firmly, his entire body now shaking. "Don't do that again. You were the one who made me to want to live again. I wouldn't be here if not for you teaching me to love living again."

His hands squeezed hers so tightly that it was hurting and threatening to break a couple of the newly healed bones there. But she didn't pull away as she stared at him, unsure of what to say.

"Do you have any idea how worried we all were for you when we awoke aboard the Ragnarok?" he asked her. "We had no idea what happened until Alisaie told us when she saw you use the teleporter—choosing to stay behind. And then, after the battle, when we were told by Meteion that you were returning to us… the relief we all felt…? But you never came. Instead, you appeared before us after we were waiting for hours, slowly bleeding out before we even realized what was going on. Gods… to think that you would never open your eyes again…?"

His shoulders shook and she felt her heart crack at the sight.

"I'm sorry," she said as he wiped his eyes. "But please know that one of the reasons I stayed wasn't for some thrill… though I'll not deny how good it felt to be able to battle just for the sake of it… but because I wanted to make sure that he would never hurt any of you again."

He blinked as she looked sad, her eyes shadowed over with some kind of pain.

"Whatever is bothering you my friend, I assure you that the others will hear naught of it," he reassured her, longing to take that pain from her though didn't know how else to do so but by listening. "Just this once… let me help you ease this burden. Please."

She took a long and slow blink as she thought his words over.

The silence that followed was the longest one yet. But he didn't dare say anything as she gazed back, his tears slowly stopping during that time.

After a long time, she heaved a sigh.

"That moment will haunt me," she confessed finally, her eyes suddenly very sore from trying to hold it all in. "How I awoke in the Tower of Babil in a body that was not mine own… and how Zenos took mine. It was… a nightmare beyond description."

She remembered that terrible moment when his body dropped to the floor as she raced to her own body—only to reach it too late. To how her form suddenly looked up and she could sense him in her skin. Even after returning to her own body she couldn't hide how… violated she felt. Like she was a broken toy that was cast aside. She felt uncomfortable to even be in her own skin for the days after that when she thought of how that bastard had been walking about in it…?

"When Fandaniel told me that it was to be a race, I wanted nothing more than to kill them both for their sick idea of entertainment," she told him sorrowfully. "You spoke of helplessness? I know that feeling all too well. How helpless I felt to be in such a different body. How it hurt…? How I panicked as I was forced to cut down those tempered souls that I know we could have helped. I couldn't even properly mourn for them for I was only thinking about getting back as soon as I could. I was even joined by a group of civilians just trying to get out of the city… if I had my real strength, I may have been able to save them… but there was an explosion and I was so closed to blacking out."

Tears slowly began to form and cloud her vision so that his worried face was obstructed. It was all she could do to hold in enough to keep her from bawling her heart out.

"I knew I had to get back to all of you as soon as I could," she told him with a shaky voice. "The fear I felt that he would hurt you while in my body tormented me like naught else I have ever known. And when I arrived…? I saw you and Alisaie at his mercy right in front of me. You know—it was that memory that entered my mind when I faced him for the last time. That was another reason I stayed… because I could not bear the thought of ever allowing something like that to happen again. Just the thought of what he could do to you all kept me from losing consciousness."

G'raha was breathing hard as he thought back to that terrible moment.

*Memory*

They watched as from the body of the unknown Imperial solider, a light began to glow. It was bright, shining radiance that reminded G'raha of the sun on a beautiful summer's day. The form of the one they thought was their friend seemed to light up as she stared at the beautiful light like a child at Starlight.

"That's a soul…" Y'shtola muttered before her blank eyes widened, "Wait… that's…?"

"Oh, figured it out, have you?" Fandaniel commented, grinning at the stunned expressions on their faces. "Yes, that's her, your champion's soul. I hope you don't mind, we borrowed her for a little experiment. Now that it has run its course, she's allowed to go home now."

At that, the light made a beeline for their friend's form, who stood up and looked at the soul that came towards them.

"Such brilliance," they whispered in a voice that did not belong to them… it sent a chill down his spine at the sound of it. And from their friend's form emerged another soul—though this one was dark and red and angry… it hurt just looking at it. It left the body as soon as the radiant light struck them in the chest… and they collapsed into a heap on the ground.

Alisaie cried out to her friend as she raced towards them as the blackened soul had taken off, heading in the direction of the malevolent tower in the distance.

Despite not understanding any of this, he and the others bolted for their friend, who had yet to move.

"Well, all's well that ends well," Fandaniel said comfortably as everyone gathered around her still form. Though Thancred and Estinien had decided to try their luck in attacking Fandaniel, who raised his eyebrows at them.

"Or, I guess not…?" he added teasingly. "Oh, come now, you got your friend back, isn't that enough?"

"What did you do to her?!" Alisaie screamed, voicing his own thoughts, still not understanding at all what just happened.

Fandaniel just sighed dramatically as they grouped around their friend's body—ready to fight him should he try anything else.

"Really? Must I now explain this?" he asked in an long-suffering tone. "I mean, I thought it all pretty obvious at this point. But, very well, I will. Lord Zenos was just growing so very anxious for his little rematch with your friend… I swear, the man thinks of nothing else but of his chosen nemesis. Doesn't pay any attention to what I do and leaves me to take care of the grunt work of setting everything up. I can't get a decent conversation out of him unless his dear 'friend' is mentioned in it. But, of course, she was taking so long… that I decided to offer a little more… motivation."

"What do you mean, motivation?" G'raha demanded, the hand gripping his staff tightened so that it hurt.

"Oh, just during the commotion earlier, while you were all running about in a panic, trying to keep control of those poor souls becoming tempered… it was all too easy to get her attention," he stated. "Hit her with a strong enough blast of aether just to knock her out and spirit her away. Right in the middle of all that and none of you noticed. I was really quite funny. But oh, my lord was so pleased when she was brought before him. At least, I think he was pleased, he didn't say anything about it. I offered that we slit her throat while she was out, but of course he wouldn't allow it. Threatened to kill me first if I tried. Anyway, using the research that Aulus mal Asina so kindly left behind, whom your warrior friend met previously in Ala Mhigo, we were able to extract her soul and place it within some borrowed flesh."

G'raha's eyes widened at that as he heard gasped around them and even a protective growl from Alisaie.

"I swear it was only to be temporarily," he added, waiving his hands down at them. "The magicks binding the flesh were made to last only a short amount of time. But it would have been long enough for Zenos, who then took control of your friend's body to come back here and slaughter you all."

"What was the point?" Thancred demanded furiously.

"Why to motivate her into a rematch," he said as if explaining a simple problem to some very dim children. "Though I can't say for sure what goes on in Lord Zenos's head at times, he was very interested in this plan… on the condition that he gives her a chance to… win this race."

"A race?" Y'shtola said darkly before she suddenly grew as pale as her hair. "You don't mean…?"

"Ah, exactly!" Fandaniel laughed as he spun about in the snow. "It was to be a game you see. Lord Zenos would come here at a reasonably slow pace while she try to catch up to him and stop him from killing you all. She didn't seem happy about the game when I explained it to her but then again, it wasn't like she had a choice in the matter!"

G'raha felt his hackles raise and his incisors digging into his lip at what he was hearing.

All the while, Fandaniel just continued to laugh as if he had just witnessed a grand show with an expected finale.

"I swear, you should be flattered that your friend cares so much for you that she fought her way through a Garlemald invested with a hoard of tempered monstrosities and magitek death machines … only to get attacked, sliced, and yes, even blown up just to get back to all of you!" he told them with a smug grin. He twirled about once more and dramatically covered his hands over his mouth and shuddered, "Just thinking about it is enough to make even me wince in pain. All with only a fraction of her normal strength too? Had to crawl to make it to the edge of the city before she recovered enough to rally to her feet and race back here. Just in time too…"

He sighed and shook his head. "Made it back here before my lord finished you off. I honestly didn't think that she would have been able to do it. Well, you win some you lose some."

"You're a sick man," Alisaie screamed, horrified at what she heard and he just shrugged at her outburst.

"Oh, such words sting! However will I go on?" Fandaniel cried out, once more as if he were on stage and reenacting a tragic death scene. "Ah, I know, I will complete my life's work and finish collecting the aether for the tower! Now, don't keep us waiting too long! For soon enough, this world will come to an end!"

He then cackled as he left the same way he came, through a portal of darkness and left them alone. Once they were sure the danger was over, they immediately directed their attention to their unconscious friend.

Alisaie was shaking in suppressed fury as she carefully turned her over so that they could see her face. She didn't appear to be in pain… it was as if she was asleep. Still, he couldn't get what that monster said out of his head.

"Is… is it really… her?" Alphinaud asked in fear as Y'shtola crouched down next to examine her.

"Yes, this time I am sure," she reassured her. "Her aether is the same as it has ever been. I can't see souls as Ryne could… but I can tell that it is her this time." She then turned to glare off in the direction of the tower. "That malicious aura has dulled my senses so I did not notice until too late that something was wrong."

"What doth we do?" Urianger gasped anxiously, helping Alisaie to support her head, but unable to see any wounds to begin treatment with.

"Bring her inside the camp, I think that we have some of the heaters up and running now," G'raha commanded, suspecting that she must be feeling cold by now. Thancred took over, turning her over in the snow and scooping her up in his arms. They hurried their way back inside the camp and brought her to a nearby heater to get her away from the cold.

As they brought her into the camp they heard running footsteps over the crunching of the ice and looked up in time to see Lucia and Maxima running towards them.

"We heard shouting! Is everything alright?!" Lucia called, her eyes widening when she spotted their champion unconscious in Thancred's arms, and then demanded, "What happened?!"

Urianger quickly began to explain, though it was obvious that his words just seemed to shock them to the core as the other Scions succeeded in bringing her inside the safety of the camp and set her down next to a heater.

"I don't see any injuries," Alphinaud pointed out.

"I guess Zenos took care of that body while he was borrowing it," Estinien muttered darkly. "What in the Fury's name was all that?"

"I thought that the Ascians couldn't possess the bodies of those with the Blessing of Light?" Thancred added, remembering their conversation back in the First when they first discovered that Elidibus had been using Ardbert's body.

"Aye, they didn't seem to be able to at first, but I can only assume that is why they went through the trouble of extracting her soul first," Y'shtola frowned. "For a comfort, her aether doesn't seem to be stable. So whatever their point of doing so was, they didn't seem interested in harming her."

"Not harming her? I can only imagine how she felt when she realized what they did!" Alisaie snapped, her hands curled into fists and was shaking more from anger than the chill in the air. G'raha didn't speak up, but he understood completely. His own heart was clenching tightly at what a nightmare that had to have been.

As they tried to rouse their friend, Urianger returned with Lucia and Maxima in tow a few minutes later. They explained that they had examined the borrowed flesh that their friend had been forced to inhabit and then left behind. He explained that it had turned cold when their friend's soul left it.

"It looks like that body had been dead for at least a short time," Maxima explained grimly. "The injuries, however, looked new. It was fairly covered with wounds and burns… several broken bones… it looks as if they had fought off a legion before making a break for it. If I didn't know better, I would swear that had been what killed them…?"

"And according to Fandaniel that is exactly what happened," Alphinaud muttered, biting his lower lip as he gazed at her sleeping face.

"Will she be alright?" Lucia asked in concern. "I can't say I claim to understand all of this…?"

"We know that during the chaos before with the refugees becoming tempered, Fandaniel apparently appeared while we were all distracted and abducted her," Y'shtola explained. "And during that time, they used a means to remove her soul from her body and placed it inside that borrowed flesh. Afterwards, Zenos took control of her real body and came here with the intent to try and harm us."

"All just to make her mad enough to want to fight him," G'raha frowned at the thought.

"She then was forced to fight her way out of Garlemald to get back here," Estinien muttered. "I do not envy her for that stunt."

"It's not her physical wounds I'm worried about," Thancred frowned. "That is… not something that one can get over."

G'raha wondered what he meant at first before he heard Urianger give a sad sigh and informed him, "Thancred… what happened before was not thee's fault."

"That's right, because you…?" Alphinaud began but Thancred was shaking his head with a bitterness that G'raha never saw before.

"I can't tell you how violating that felt," he admitted quietly. "I still feel sick just recalling that moment that Lahabrea took over my body and began walking about doing a bad impression of me. I felt uncomfortable to be in my own body with the knowledge that someone else was walking around in it like a second-hand tunic. Though here, it is different. I mean, I was still in my body with that bastard took over. Not sure if that's better or worse than what they did to her."

G'raha just clenched his fists as he thought of that. How dare they? Just what kind of sick, twisted games were they trying to prove here? As Alisaie began to make threats to what she will do when she gets her hands on Fandaniel and Zenos for this, they heard a groan. The looked at once, their hearts filled with worry as she began to stir… and when their friend's eyes opened—blinking in confusion at them all—he instantly relaxed. As soon as he saw those eyes and felt the instant warmth from them he smiled in relief knowing that she was here with them.

*End of Memory*

"You did so just in the nick of time. You did save us in the end," he nodded but she shook her head.

"I almost didn't," she reminded him as hot tears began to fall now. "I saw you both there… you and Alisaie…? And all I could think of was how my face would have looked to you at that moment…? I don't know what expression my body had while he had possession of it, but I dread to think I could be capable of such a look."

She just couldn't hold back the strangled sobs this time.

Honestly, that thought had continued to haunt her for some time and she wished she could just forget all of it.

She just couldn't explain the reason why she was suddenly speaking out about this despite the fact that it all happened weeks ago. Gods, has it truly only been weeks? She had tried her best to get over it and move on, to bear with the pain until everything went numb… but with G'raha's words of how he was here to help her carry her burdens ringing in her ears, she just couldn't hold back. All of a sudden, the full weight of everything that happened seemed to collapse on top of her and this burden was at the forefront of her mind at the moment. Perhaps she just needed a friendly ear—someone to just listen.

She knew how he admired her so she was hesitant to reveal something that so deeply scarred her, but she also knew that he wouldn't judge her feelings… for he had been prepared to sacrifice it all at one point for her as well. Though she hadn't planned on speaking out about this now… she could think of precious few others whom she could entrust to such pain.

And by the Twelve… if it felt good before to be able to fight without the weight of the world hanging over her… to actually speak out about some of the trauma from before…? It felt so liberating. As if something poisonous was slowly leaving her heart.

She took several deep, steadying breaths until she was able to regain control of herself. This time, it was G'raha who carefully wiped the tears from her cheeks as he looked sadly down at her.

"My friend… how long have you been carrying that around?" he asked sadly.

She did not answer as she just shut her eyes again, looking shattered.

"We are still here, we are still alive," he told her in a reassuring whisper. "Because of you. Don't you dare blame yourself for what he almost did. I can only imagine the pain you must have gone through to get back to us. It was a terrible series of events that would break most people. But please, don't fear that nightmare again. We knew it was not you right away anyway."

"What gave it away?" she asked curiously, truly wanting to know that. "How did you know that something was wrong?"

"Well, we didn't realize it at first since we were all so relieved to see, what we thought was you, coming towards us," he answered. "They didn't even say anything… and yet… I just knew. I just knew that it wasn't you that I was looking at. Something was wrong… inside…? I don't know how else to describe it. But when Zenos smirked… that was how I realized that it couldn't have been you."

He wasn't entirely sure how to put it into words. It had been her body, but somehow every part of his instinct was screaming that there was something very wrong. He had looked over her for any injuries or anything out of the ordinary as they asked what happened… but when he saw that cold smirk, how that warmth that was usually there was suddenly absent… he just knew.

"That whole ordeal… it made me sick to think that he was walking around in my body and on his way to all of you," she spoke up again, getting his attention. "I thought of that when we fought at the universe's edge. I vowed that this would be the final fight between us… not just to see who was the strongest, but for peace of mind that you were all safe."

"You shouldn't have to worry about placing our lives before yours," he scolded softly.

She tilted her head, though it was hard to tell that since she was resting her head against her pillow.

"Yet that's a bit hypocritical of you, isn't it not? For were you not the one who was prepared to die for my sake once before?" she reminded him and his eyes widened at that before looking away. "Not just mine… but the entire First… so you… of all people…?"

He lowered his head as he moved back in his seat, his ears drooping so low that they were threatening to disappear into his hair. For a moment, she feared that she may have unintentionally hurt him. But then…?

"…would understand your reasons," he finished for her, though there was a new tone that spoke of acceptance and she felt a slight sigh of relief leave her at that.

G'raha felt guilt in his heart at those earnest words. He had reminded her on more than a few occasions that she was his greatest inspiration. Did they truly neglect her to such a point that she would be plagued by such dark thoughts of wondering if she was merely seen as a tool or weapon to be used against their foes? She was a hero in every sense of the word—no one could argue that. He thought of the many stories that he heard while in that dark future before and how he memorized everything about her adventures and deeds during that time. But he could not help but think back to the kind-hearted girl he met that day looking for aethersand beneath the bows of the Twelveswood. How he remembered in great detail how he showed her around the camp or when he would talk her ear off of his vast knowledge of Allag, to even as something as simple as making sandwiches together as they waited for more news to share on the excavation. He even smiled at the time when he showed off a little magic and handed her a flower while she called him a 'shameless flirt'.

Suddenly she was chuckling slightly and he wondered if she was thinking of that memory at the same time.

When he locked himself behind the doors of the tower, he honestly did not think that they would ever meet again. But when those who awoken him centuries later, he knew what he had to do. He had to do whatever it took to save her. He had made the choice to take on that role—no matter how difficult he knew it to be. Perhaps it was easy to let the idea of her being a vaunted Warrior of Light blind him to the fact that she was still one person. But it had been his greatest wish to be a part of those stories that so inspired him, to see her smile and support her where he could as she continued to press forward to ever grander adventures.

For it had been more than just a desire to save the future with the aid of a hero. He wished to save his friend from such a terrible fate.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I know that we put so much pressure on you that you feel that you have to carry all these burdens yourself…?"

She shook her head kindly and her eyes were shining once more.

"You never made me do nothing I didn't want to," she reassured him, removing her hand from his before gripping them with both of her own. Their fingers laced together and it felt as if she was trying to draw some kind of unspoken comfort from him. He wasn't sure just what it was that she was feeling, but if this was what helped bring her relief, it was the least he could do for her.

"Look at us, slaves to sentiment," she said at last and they both chuckled at that.

"Ah, there are worst things to be, I suppose," he reminded her and they laughed for a time, both feeling some of their burdens leave them. It felt… almost freeing for them both and by the end of it where they caught their breath, she was emotionally exhausted from laying her heart bare.

"There is one thing that I want you to know," he informed her, his voice still kind but there was a more serious tone to it. "Whatever else that may happen now or in the future… know that we truly treasure you. Not just us Scions, but so many others who want nothing more than to see you happy and safe. None of us could bear the thought of a world without you in it. If you need proof of that, then think of all those who worked so hard in a dark and distant alternate future for the chance for you to shine bright and live again?"

At that, he saw how her eyes widened slightly, as if she had forgotten about all that and he just affectionately ran his fingers through her hair in a soothing way.

"I understand your reasons for staying behind, I truly do," he reiterated. "At least I do now. Having been prepared to offer my life for your sake and that of the First… perhaps I am the last person to ever try to tell you the many reasons why you shouldn't ever think like that. Yet, I also feel that it is because of mine own experience that I say that you must understand how we all felt when we were gathered around you and trying to stop you from bleeding to death."

She nodded, truly appreciating what they must have gone through at that moment. She accepted the pain and worry she put them through and wish that there was something that she could do to take that away.

"I'm sorry that you had to see that," she whispered quietly.

"Just… please… think more of yourself from time to time," he begged, moving a hand up to gently brush some of her hair out of her face. "Please, from now on, put more value over your life like you do with ours."

She gazed at him, squeezing his hand a little tighter as she promised, hoping that she never be faced with a reason to have to break any promise that she made with him, "I promise."

At that, she was struggling to form words, having exhausted what little energy she had with so much talking. It was strange to find herself so open for once—though she suspected that maybe the medicine was affecting her judgement. Still, she felt much of the anxiety that had been inside her subside so that her heart now felt lighter.

"I am honored that you trust me so much to speak so openly, my friend," he complimented with an edge of happiness in his tone. "I won't forget what you said. Know that you can always come to me with anything that troubles your mind."

She nodded as he moved to get up. For some reason she felt a tiny speck of panic so she gripped his hand a little tighter and he paused.

"Stay…?" she asked, her voice very faint with sleep. Though taken aback, his face melted into a loving smile and he nodded. He sat back down and continued to just hold her hand, deciding to stay like this until she fell asleep.

"I'm not going anywhere," he promised. "And to your fears from before? You are not the same as Zenos. Whatever he was, you were his opposite rather than a reflection. For if he was the pain to this star, I see you as the salve to those wounds that he inflicted. So please… don't ever feel ashamed for who you are or what you might have been. This is who you are now. And that is the most important thing."

"Thank you…" she whispered as some of the tensions seemed to fade, which he found encouraging and nodded.

"Sleep," he urged again as he watched her lean farther back against her pillow and her breathing deepened. "I will look after you from here on out. We will be here for a time so don't feel pressured to do anything other than just to recover. You let us focus on dealing with the repercussions—or I guess we should call it the cleanup."

"I can help too…?" she offered before G'raha shook his head.

"Absolutely not. You have done more than enough for one lifetime," G'raha scolded gently. "If there is anyone on this star who has earned her rest, it is you. And for that matter, you are not going anywhere until we are sure you have made a full recovery. So no travelling, no fighting, no dangerous adventures that could change the world as we know it for the better—or any of those other fun things that we know you so love doing. At least not for right now. Do you understand?"

She nodded, deciding that it was going to be much easier if she didn't try to fight her fate as she felt him tuck her blanket around her more securely.

She quickly found herself drifting off, reassured in the knowledge that she and everyone was alive and safe. She held onto G'raha's hand even long after she was claimed by dreams, however… and G'raha just smiled as he continued his silent vigil at her bedside long into the night. He didn't let go of her hand once, even as the sun began to cast the first rays of warmth into the room—only releasing it when he heard a soft knock at the door and Krile's voice called from the other side to check in on them.

(Oh, that was so sweet! I am a sucker for injured characters and bedside care. I hope that you all loved it! There will be one more chapter and if you think this one was sweet, then you will be having cavities by the time the next chapter, this time with the twins, will be over! Look forward to it!)